### Chapter 181: Azure Fire Burning the Moon, bl**d Stained Royal City (Part 15)
Boom——
The red torrent surged, flames curled with a mad intensity, consuming everything in sight in an instant.
The moment the scorching wave hit, I shut my eyes tight.
“Ah——!!!”
A hoarse scream echoed faintly in my ears—I knew that was me shouting.
At that moment, I poured all my remaining strength into summoning the Ice Mist, wrapping it tightly around Victoria and me.
The fire roared, pressing down on the Ice Mist, threatening to scatter it.
I could clearly feel that my Frost Order ability was several degrees weaker than usual.
But, the Power of Order within me was still abundant… just a bit more effort… Silvya… what’s going on with you… give it your all!
I bit my tongue, tasting the salty bl**d as it spread through my mouth.
My body sank rapidly in the sea of flames, the sounds of slicing winds intermixed with roaring fire blaring in my ears… I imagined Victoria must be pushing herself to the limit too.
Whoosh—puff——
Suddenly, a chill washed over me, followed by a wave of joy; I realized we had burst out of the flames.
I quickly retracted the Ice Mist and opened my eyes—my vision was instantly filled with the monstrous head and its snarling features, a massive claw raised, howling down towards us from above.
My heart felt like it stopped beating for a moment.
“Victoria—”
Bang——!
In that instant, I was hit by overwhelming force, my vision went black, and a buzzing noise filled my head, as if my soul was trying to escape, leaving me completely numb.
No pain, no burning sensation.
Just the realization that I was tumbling down fast… very fast.
I curled up as best as I could, clutching my head with my hands and holding my breath—
Thud!
My body slammed into the hard ground. My b*tt hit first, followed by my back and head, bouncing off and then crashing down again.
“Cough!”
I gasped out a breath.
It felt like all my bones were about to shatter.
“Ugh…”
I trembled, releasing a weak groan, and opened my mouth wide, trying to s*ck that breath back in.
The ringing in my ears mixed with dizziness, merged with the vague sounds of panic around me, seeping into my mind, blurring reality and illusion.
My head was pounding harder.
“Cough-hack——”
I spat out a mouthful of bl**d, regaining my breath in the process. I lay on my back, gasping for air, slowly turning my head toward where Victoria had fallen.
It seemed she had landed on the far-off church’s roof… it was dim, and I could barely see.
Shadowy figures rushed back and forth in front of me, shrieking.
I kept shaking my head, trying to stay alert, gradually assessing my body’s condition.
My back was numb from pain, but I didn’t think any bones were broken.
The height of the fall wasn’t even that bad; it was just the monster’s claw strike that packed such a punch… It was her back that took the brunt of the hit.
Please, let her be okay…
I struggled to get up, but my hands and feet felt uncoordinated, and my vision started to blur… with a growing appetite that overshadowed all discomfort, everything felt trivial.
…Silvya, stay awake.
Don’t let yourself be defeated.
If you do, all the effort you’ve put in so far will turn to dust and be meaningless.
From here, I could already see the city wall—not too far, maybe a few hundred meters—just a little more… and I’d be good.
If Victoria lost the ability to move… then I’d have to draw it out…
I slowly steadied myself and staggered towards the city wall. After a few steps, my body started to itch, and my hands and feet began to cooperate again.
I must… I need to… get out of the city… right, get out…
“Roar——”
The monster above roared, getting ready to pounce.
Whoosh——
Someone landed beside me, and I lifted my blurry eyelids to look.
“Victoria…”
Thank goodness, she’s not… hurt…
Actually, she was hurt.
Victoria’s left arm was twisted at a strange angle, her already tattered dress was riddled with holes, a large area at her side was stained red, bl**d trickling down her thigh, dripping away. Her delicate face was ghostly pale, heavy beads of sweat pouring down.
She was badly injured.
Even so, she maintained that indifferent demeanor. Standing tall before me, her cold gaze radiated an unyielding pride and defiance.
Suddenly, a shower of golden light cascaded down.
What is…
“Cough cough. Quickly, get out of here, head to the parish——!”
An elderly voice quavered from within the golden glow, echoing through the Royal City.
Immediately, countless blue electric bolts flashed out from the buildings across the street, from below the ground.
It looked like someone was tearing through the very fabric of lightning. Bright arcs mingled at a certain point across the street, stirring the air into a terrifying azure arc that illuminated the surrounding dark like day, striking the monster above.
The rumble of thunder boomed the next moment.
Boom——!!!
Crackle crackle… sizzling…
The monster’s silhouette became hazy in the light, struggling endlessly.
Who’s that… that voice… familiar… the school opening ceremony… Grandma Bersa.
My disoriented mind took a solid two seconds before snapping to awareness of the voice’s owner—our aging, frail principal.
She had arrived.
“How did it come to this… you stupid thing… cough cough, ugh! This damned body… Little Viki! Silvya! Draw it out of the city, k*ll it outside!”
I couldn’t see where she shouted from, but upon hearing her, Victoria turned her gaze back to me.
“Can you hold on?” she asked.
“I can… what about you…”
Victoria didn’t answer my question.
She looked up at the pitch-black monster roaring in the sky, struck by lightning, and said to me, “You go outside first.”
“What about you…”
“I’ll send it out of the city, I’ll catch up soon.”
“…Okay.”
No hesitation needed.
I couldn’t hold on for much longer; my head was pounding… whether that monster left the city or not, I knew I had to get out now.
Otherwise, I might just turn into the next monster myself.
I shook my head vigorously, wanting to tell Victoria: If I start acting weird, then do your best to k*ll me.
…No way.
Why would I say that… why would I ask her to k*ll me…
I…
I need to get out.
My feet began to move.
“Your Majesty the Queen——”
Forgiveness Head’s voice suddenly pierced the air not far away.
In my peripheral vision, he rushed towards Victoria, accompanied by a few members of the Sword of Kanli, visibly anxious.
“Your Majesty… I’m late, I couldn’t protect you…”
I began to pick up speed.
The conversation behind me faded into the howling wind.
“You’re no match… evacuate the civilians…”
“But you… you can’t fight anymore… I’ll draw… I can’t let you come to harm…”
“That’s an order…”
“Your Majesty the Queen——”
“I am not your Queen tonight…”
Bang!
An Ice Pillar shot me into the air.
Almost simultaneously, a furious wind howled from behind.
“I am Pope Knight Victoria.”
Her words in the wind were as cold as spring water.
It was like a stone dropping into my dazed mind, creating ripples in my heart.
